The Cao family's residence is located in Taikangfang, two residential areas to the south of Yonghefang. This area is right next to the inner river and very close to the south city gate. It has a crisscross of streets and alleys and is well connected.
The source of the inner river is Qujiang Pond in Wannian County. Its channels are spread throughout the capital like a spider web. From the imperial city to every market town, there are wells built with its underground rivers or channels as springs.
Therefore, the imperial court attached great importance to the management of the inland rivers. Not only did it plant many flowers and trees on both sides of the rivers to stabilize the sand, but it also issued a clear order prohibiting the residents from dumping sewage and filth into the rivers. If anyone violated the rules, they would be flogged sixty times. If they refused to change their ways after repeated warnings, they would be expelled from the household registration and demoted to a lowly class.
This is how the inland river maintains its perennially clear flow, with rocks visible beneath the surface. The scenery along the river is also quite beautiful, with lush greenery in spring and autumn, and the water rippling in the wind, making it a perfect spot for outings. Legend has it that whenever the imperial examination results were announced, successful candidates would ride their horses in a parade along the riverbank to inform the public.
By then, the entire capital would gather here, making it so packed that no one could get through. Every year when the results were announced, some people would be squeezed so hard they would fall into the river, earning them the nickname "Water Champion."
Taikangfang is located here, which is blessed with unique advantages. It has become a gathering place for talented scholars in Beijing. Wine shops, brothels, inns, regular shops and music halls are lined up here. Even after the curfew, the place is still full of wine, women, singing and dancing.
On the contrary, it was very quiet in broad daylight. Even the woman selling wine in the tavern looked listless and dozed off. She didn't even bat an eyelid at the loud noise of the ox cart passing by.
This wasn't Xu Jiang's first visit to Shoukangfang; she'd met Cao Shu, Xu San, and others there before. She longed for it even more than the East and West Markets in Kyoto. While bustling, the East and West Markets were too noisy and crowded with merchants, making them unpopular with scholars.
They were fond of elegance and sought seclusion. Shoukangfang had many elegant houses and often held gatherings where dignitaries would come to entertain each other. Scholars would pay homage to the place with poems and paintings in order to seek fame and fortune. Therefore, this place became the best-selling place for poetry, calligraphy and paintings in Kyoto, and it was also the origin of popular songs, lyrics and vernacular novels.
There are several famous bookstores and bookshops here. Initially, she had planned to open a bookstore here, but the space was in short supply and the prices were high. With her meager savings, she could not make a living. Therefore, she found the secluded place in Yonghefang that no one else cared about.
But for her, living in seclusion in a remote place can avoid many risks and disputes, and perhaps she can live out her life in peace.
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